Police Beat: Woman reports sexual assault

An Ann Arbor woman was sexually assaulted while walking home from downtown Ann Arbor Sunday morning, and police said a hat found at the scene could help identify the attacker.

The 21-year-old woman said she was walking from a party on Main Street toward her home when she passed a man in the 300 block of Packard Road at about 2:45 a.m., reports said.

She told police the man approached her and began speaking Spanish. When she said she didn't understand, the man grabbed her, forced her up against a parked vehicle in a driveway, then dragged her behind the house at 314 Packard where he began to assault her. The victim began screaming when she heard people walking by and the man ran off; he was last seen in the area of Division Street, police said.

The woman, who lost her glasses and cell phone during the attack, ran to a home on Division Street, where a resident called police.

The attacker is described as Hispanic, between 20 and 25 years of age. He wore a dark shirt and khaki cargo shorts, and had a large nose and goatee, reports said.

Police responding to the scene found the victim's belongings and a baseball hat believed to be worn by the assailant, Detective Dave Monroe said. The hat is charcoal in color and has a Hard Rock Cafe emblem on the front. The back has the words "Love all, serve all" on the back.

Monroe said the man may have attended a small party at a home in the 300 block of Packard earlier that night and that hosts of the party have been uncooperative thus far.

Anyone with information is asked to call Monroe at 734-996-3281 or the tip line at 734-996-3199.